Affordable Windows Smartphones On The Rise

In the past year, Microsoft has made a strategic move in the smartphone market by replacing the established Nokia brand with its own and focusing on the development of affordably priced devices. This move serves to broaden their customer outreach as they unveil the affordable Lumia 435 and 532 models. Measured at compact 4-inches, these handsets are set to retail at approximately 15,000 NGN/$81 for Lumia 435 and 17,000 NGN/$93 for Lumia 532, respectively. However, consumers should note that these figures may fluctuate once the devices reach market retail outlets.

In regards to the features for these budget-friendly smartphones, they are far from disappointing. Both models are equipped with a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, yet they vary slightly with the Lumia 435 housing a dual-core while the Lumia 532 boasts a quad-core. The models are also designed with 4-inch 800×480 screens, however, the Lumia 532 has an added advantage by supporting the Glance feature, a popular characteristic found in many other Lumia models.

In terms of memory capabilities, both the Lumia 435 and 532, come loaded with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. Additionally, they support microSD cards up to a whopping 128GB. These smartphones are labelled as 3G devices, each supporting up to 42Mbps HSDPA. Smartphone photography enthusiasts may take note of the VGA-quality front-facing cameras featured in both models. Yet, the key distinguishing factor lies in their rear-facing cameras. The Lumia 435 is outfitted with a 2MP fixed focus lens, while the Lumia 532 steps it up with a 5MP fixed focus lens.

Overall, the introduction of Lumia 435 and 532 underscores Microsoft’s commitment to providing affordable, yet feature-rich, smartphone options. This will allow more consumers to enjoy the benefits of Microsoft’s technology. However, it remains to be seen how these new offerings will perform in the competitive smartphone market.

Image source: arstechnica

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.

[UPDATED_TB_2025]